Feed regulator



Sept. 4, 1928. 1,682,958

D. GEDDES FEED REGULATOR Filed Janu29, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. V4, 1928 1,682,958 D. GEDDES FEED REGULATOR Filed .Ja n. 29, 1926 :s Sheets-Sheet 2 D. GEDDES FEED REGULATOR Sept. 4, 1928.

Filed Jan. 29, 1926 s Sheets-Shet s Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES p 1,682,958 ra'rsur carries. 1

DAVID GEDDES, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

FEED REGULATOR.

Application filed January 29, 1926. Serial No. 841254.

rock, coal and the like. :For' the sake ofconvenience and simplicity, I shall herein refer to the device as being used for controlling the flow of grain, particularly wheat, but it will be understood that the invention is'notlimited to such use.

The'principal object of the invention is to provide a regulator which will provide a uniform flow'of material without any variation thereof on account-of variations in the character of thematerial. In the case of wheat, the character of the material may vary as to smoothness, as to size of the grains, as to dampness, and otherwise, and the mechanism embodying the invention maintains a uniform flownotwithstanding these variations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a regulator which is so constructed and controlled as to avoid any tendency for periodic or oscillator-y movements of the valves thereof, -erratic and'unevc'n flow being thus avoided.

A further object "of the invention is to provide a feed regulator which has smooth surfaces, and which is so constructed that it Jcannot be clogged by foreign matter such as nails,-straw and the like, and'so constructed that such foreign material cannot change the rate of flow.

Still further objects of the invention will be apparent from-the following specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown the embodiment of the invention which 'I now deem preferabl'e,tl1is embodiment being particularly adapted for grain, especially "wheat. It will be understood, however," that the drawings are for illustrative purposes on1y, and are not 'tobe construed as definin-gor limiting theinventio'n, the claims forming a part o'f this specification being relied upon for thatpurpose.

'Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 'isa side view of a fcedregulator mnbodyingthe invention.

Fig.2 is an end view with certain parts broken away.

all

Fig. 3, is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view. 7

Fig. 5 isa detailed View showing, inperspective, the upper valve. I

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig.3. i

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the main casing of the apparatus, this casing preferably being rectangular-in form. The

casing 1 is connected with a hopper 2. EX-

tending downward into the casing 1 is-asu'bstantially vertical supply duct 3, through which the material to be regulated is introduced into the apparatus. Connected with the hopper 2 is a vertical discharge duct 4. A valve 5and a platform 6, adapted tobe controlled in the manner hereinafter set forth, are associated respectively with the supply and guide ducts 3 and 4.

The supply duct 8 is preferably formed trated the valve 5 comprises side walls 8 and 9, a front wall 10, and a bottom 11, which-extends transversely between the side walls but which*is spaced" away from the front wall. The side walls 8 and 9 are far on bothsides of the bottom p'art of the duct 3 when the valve is in its assembled {position. As illustrated'the valve 5-is supported enoughapart and are high enough to extend by means 'of trunnions 12 and 13 which GX-- tend laterally, and which respectively project through slots 14- and 15 formed in the sides of-the casing 1. Links 1.6'and 17 are provided atthe respective sidesof the casing; these links being supported on knife edges 18 and 19 mounted on the lateral projecting-edgesof the cover 7. The links 16 and 1:7 areprovided withapertures into which the 'trunnions Hand 13 respectively.

project. this way thevalve' sup- :ijim'ted; but is at-thesame tiiuefree t'o more horizontally nder the control of the mechanism to be described.

The front wall of the valve 5 carries'a horizontally projecting rod which extends forward through an opening 21 in the casing 1. j p

At its forward endthe rod 20 is provided with a head 22 having a pivot aperture V ectin'g rearward. romthe'hub is a bar,

therein. As shown, this aperture is in the form of a downward opening notch The casing 1 issupported upon and preferably formed integrally withia housing 24 which surrounds thedischarge spout 4. and

is preferably of about the same cross-see, tional-rsize and shape as the casing 1. Carried by the front wall oft-he housing 24 are two forward projecting brackets25 and 26 provided with inward projecting studs 27 and 28. Carried by these studs are links 29 and 30 which engage trunnions 31' 3.116.132

rojecting laterall r from a hub Pro- 34 carrying a weight 35 which projects into fa recess 36, formed in thehousing 24. 7 Proweight 39 which is adjustable along the' beam. Theweight 39 "can be clamped in adjustedposition by meansof tho screw 40.

jecting forward fromrthe hub is a balance beam 37 carrying a fixed weight 38 at its extremeend and also carrying a counter Projecting upward from the "hub 33 is an arm 41 which is forked at its upper end andv carries a pivot pin 42 fitting-the beforementioned bearing a erture in the rod20. It will be seen that t e armAl, cooperating with the rodv 20, serves tosupport and balnions 12 and 13.-;

' ance the valve 5, the [said valvebeing other- -wisemovable about the axis of thetruri- From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the mechanism described serves to operate thevalve fi ina horizontal direction. The weight 35 is-heavy enough to counterbalance the .weights38 and 39, and

'] the'result is thatthe weight 35 tends to move the arm 41" in the counter-clockwise direcside .walls. to extend at each sideof the duct 4 when the platform is in operative position; The plat- ;tioh and to thus ihold the valve 5 in its extreme rearward ,or open force tending to thus move t e valve rear- I'IU osition. The

ward can be reduced andregulated byadjusting the'position of the weight 39 on the beam 34.

I '.;The platform 6, associated with the discharge duct 4, has sidewalls 43 and .44 and an. inclined bottom 45 connectingthe said The-sidewalls are so spacedv as orm 6 is provided atfitsrear end with a forked lug 46 carrying a bearing pin 47. A link 48 is provided, this link having at its lower end .an aperture which receives the bearing pin 47; The linkhas at its upper end an aperture which receives a'knife edge 4Qcairiedqby the upper part of the housing 24. "Bymieans of the construction described,

the platform 6 is supcnded at-its rear end so as to be capable of substantially horizontal movement, The platform is provided at its frontfend with laterally projecting trun nions 50 and 51 which project outward through openings 52 and 53in the-housin .24. .lhebefore mentioned links 16 and 1 are )rov-idedwith' downward extending'ex tensions 16? and'17 whichare pivotally bonnected with links 54 and 55.,These1 links extend downward and forwardyandjat their lower ends engage. the before-mentioned trunnions' .50 {and 51. .Byum'eans oflthese links the forward end of'the platform 6. is

supported. It will 'be seen that by. means of the links 5'4 and 55 the: valve. 5 and the platform 6 are connected .t-ogetherso that the position of one will to some extent control the position of the other.

1 Preferably in; order to iproperly control theflowof material through the supply duct and past the valve 5,1 provide adepending flange 56 at' the bottomj ofthe rear wall oflthe supply duct, thisfiange extending quite close to the valve 5 and projecting into the material on the valve.

The front wall 10 0f the valve preferably carries an apron 57 whichuexten'ds down ward and is. curved rearward to direct. the flow -of:- materialtand to L-discharge it at a point vertically disposedabove the discharge 7 duct .4; Preferably as clearly shown, in

Fig. 4, the front wall of the supply duct 3 is curved :soias to beqsemi'ecircular in form,

- or substantiallyso; 1 This. causes thefflow of material to be more or. less con'centratedto- I ward; the} center of the. mechanism when the lim valve 5is partl closed. The material discharged fronrt e apron 57 isi'delivered di:

rectlyhto the platform 61am] is then discharged-therefrom over the edge 6 thereof.

In order that the valve51nay be entirely v closed and held in closed position, I provide a suitable latch; device. As illustrated a latch 58 is horizontally pivoted on the cas' ing 1 at the front thereof, arrdthearm-41 is provided with a notch 59-. Byswinging Till no material is being suppliedto ih the valve 9 i 5 is normally he ld .wide open by the weight .35 and. the platform 6 is linvitsupper .position by the links 54. and 55 fWhenmaterial to be regulated is supplied to the regulator,

this material initially passes-freely through thesupply duct 3 and past thevalve 5. "This flowing material is deflected. by: the apron of the apron onto. the platform'6. The

weight of the material falling on the plat- I 2 form 6 serves to moveit downward, and, at

57 and fallsfdirectly from the-lower edge iii) acemes the same time, to partly close the valve 5. Itwill be seen that the weight of the -masult is that a condition of equilibrium is reached between the valve 5 and the plat form '6, the condition being such that a steady uniform flow of material is permitted. It will be readily apparent that the positions of the valve and platform are controlled in part by the weight of the flowing material,

and in part by the action of the counterweight 35 modified by the adjustable weight 39. By adjusting this latter weight, the

position of the parts can be changed and the rate of flow can be correspondingly changed.

It will be understood that it is the weight of the material impinging upon and sliding upon the platform 6 which, for anygiven adjustment of the Weight 39, regulates the amount o'fmaterial flowingper unit of time. Let it TbBJELSSHHlGCl that the 'material being regulated is wheatyand that the mechanism has been'adjusted to provide the desired rate of flow for wheat of the average condition. If a quantity of wet wheat reaches the regulator, this will flow more slowly and the consequence is that there is less weight per unit of time impinging upon and sliding upon theplatform. 6. Therefore, thereis a reduced tendency for the platform to hold the valve 5 closed, and the'valve 5 opens to a slight extent, thus incre'asing the flow until the desired weight per unit of time impinges upon the platform.

Similarly if a quantity of particularly smooth and dry wheatreaches the regulator, this will flow more freely with the result that a greater weight :per unitof "time will impinge upon the platform 6. Thisgre'ater weight tends to further lower the platform 6, and to correspondingly close the valve 5. The valve 5 is .closed farzenough to restrict the fiow so that'the required weight perunit of time impinges upon the platform. ,7 i

It will be seen that when the valve '5 moves, the apron "57 -moves with it, thus changing the position of the initialengagement of the material with the :platform 6. Movement of the valve 5 in the opening direction (by reason of decreased flow as clearly explained) decreases the leverage of the position of engagement'with respect'to the pivotal support of the platform 6, but

at the same time provides'a' greater distance increased. The net result is an increased tendency for the platform to move downward, this "increase resulting not only from the rate of flow, but also from the increased length of the sliding contact. 'By reason of to very quickly stop the opening movement ofthe valve 5.

Exactly the opposite action takes place when the valve 5 moves in the closing direction, and by reason of the cumulative action described the platform 6 serves to very quickly stop the closing movement of the valve 5. v j

The rapid building up of'resistance to change of position, as described in the preceeding paragraphs, largely prevents any vibratory or oscillatory movement of the valve. r

The flange 66 projecting into the material on the valve 5 serves as an additionalstabi weight mechanism, that is by adjusting the position of the weight 39.

I claim:

1. The combination in a feed regulator, of a supply duct, a valve for regulating the flow of material through the duct, means tending to hold the valve in'open'position, a

pivoted "regulating platform onto which ma terial is delivered from the supply duct, .1

connection between the platform and the valve for movingthe valve in the closing direction whenthe platform is moved by 1naterial engaging therewith, and means auton atically serving to change the position of the initial engagement of the material with the platform-and thereby change the leverage of said. platform in accordance with varia- 'tions in theposition of the valve.

2. The combination ina feed regulator, of a substantially vertical supply duct having one s1de thereof convex, a valve horizontally Vmovableacross the bottom of the duct for regulating the j flow of material therethrongh, means tending to hold the valve in open position, a pivotedregulating platform onto which material is delivered from the supply duct, a connection between the platform and the-valve for moving the valve in a the closing'direction and toward the convex s1de ofthe'duct when theplatform is moved this cumulative action, the platform 6 serves I loo b 1 material en a in therewith and mean.

automatically serving to change the position of the initial engagement of the material with the pistfcrm and thereby change the All .leverage out-said platform in accordance with V v a supply duct, a valve for-regulating the variations in-the position of the valve. v

3. The combination in a feed regulator, of a substantially vertical supplyf duct, a valve a rhorizontally movable across thepductflfor regulating the flow-oi material throughthe duct, means tending to holdthc, valve in open position, a pivoted regulating. platform, onto which material is delix 'ered from the supply duct, aconnection between the plattorm and "thef'valve formoving the valve n the closing -direction when the-platform is moved by material, engaging therewith, and a deflector carried by the valve and automaticallyserve -ing to change-the position of: the initial engagement oi? the material. with the platform and thereby change the leverage of said platformiin accordance with variations ini the 'POSllllOll of the valve. V

r 4:. The combination in a feed regulator, oi-

a-supply, duct, a valve for regulating the flow of material through the duct,"me ans tendingto hold the valvein openposit on, a

a movable regulating platform onto which material is delivered from the supply; duct, the -said platform having an edge at onexside thereof over which the HltttGllQt is discharged, a; connection between the platform and the valve (for moving the vvalve in the closing direction when the platform isinovcd V bv material en amn therewith and means v i o b b 7 automatically serving to: move the position of the initial engagement, of: the material with the platform toward the said discharge a edgewhenthe valve is moved in the closing direction and away from the said edge when thevalve is moved in the opening direction,

and'thereby change the leverage t-liereofin i to hold the valve in open position, a movable regulating platformonto which materialis delivered from the supply'duct, the said platform having 'a horizontal pivotal support at one side thereof, and an edge opposite the pivotal support over whichthe material is discharged, a connection between the side of it the platform opposite the pivotalsupport and the valve formoving the valve inthe closing direction when the platform is moved by material engaging therewith, and means automatically servingto change the effective leverage of the platform by moving the position of'the initial engagement of the material with the platform relatively to the pivetal' support and relatively to thejdischarge edge, the movement being toward the discharge edge and away from the pivotal sup portwhen the valve is moved in the closing direction and away fromthe discharge edge and toward. the pivotal support when the valve-is moved in the opening direction.

. the platformand the valve for movingthe valve in the closing direction when the; plat- 6. The combination in a feed regulator, of

flow of material through theduct, a weight I mechanism comprising a ,main weight tending to hold the valve in openpos tion and an adjustable counterweight acting in opposition-to the main weight, a p voted regulatin i platform; onto; which material is delivere from the supplyduct, a connectioni betweenl torn' fis moved-by material engaging there-l with, the engagement of. the, material with the platform serving to balance, the action of the, weight mechanism, andmeans, auto- .vmatically serving to ,change the effective leverage'of the platform by moving theposit-ion of the initial Lengagement of. the material, with the platform relativeto the platv form pivot in accordancewith variationsin theposition Offtl'lBWfilVQ. r a 7. he combination in a feed regulator, ofv a substantially vertical supply duct, afvalve horizontally Qmovable across'fthe bot-tom of the duct and separated therefrom for regu-Y latingthe flow of material through the'duct, meanstending tohold the valve inopen position; a movable regulating platform onto which material is disch'arged from the supply duct, a connectionbetween the platform and thevalve'for moving the valvein the closing direction whehthe Y platform is' moved b materialengaging therewith,zand

valve and in position to extend intoamateri'al thereon for dampening" any oscillatory tendency of thevalve'; a a -,8. The combination in afeed regulator, of

a substantially vertical supply duct, a valve means fixed against movementwith' the therethrough, two simllarlparallel links for a v 'movably supporting one end of the, valve at the} opposite sides thereof, an arm for controlling the-movements of said valve fsaid arm being horizo ntally pivoted below the level of the valve and having'-a pivotalcon nectiontherewith for supporting said valve at; its opposite end, an i adjustable: weight mechanism connected-with the arm and tending to hold the valve in open position; a PIVOtGCl regulating platform'onto which material .is delivered from-the sup ly duct, and:

i a connection betweenfthe plat orm; and 'the valve for moving the valve in the closing direction when the platformfis =moved by a material engaging therewith, ithe' en'gage v-ment of the material with the platform serv rlngifl balance the action ofthev'veightmedh 9. The combination in a feed regulator, of

a substantially vertical supply; duct, a valve horizontally movable. across the bottom of the duct for regulating the; flow'of material theretlirough; two similar parallel links for int movably siupporting the valve, an arm horizontally pivoted below the level of the valve and having a pivotal connection therewith for co'iitrolflin'g it, an adjustable weight mechanism connected with the" arm and tending to hold the valve in open position, a movable regi'il'ating platform onto which material is delivered from the supply duct, a connection between the platform and the valve for moving the valve in the closing direction when the platform is moved by material engaging therewith, the engagement of the material with the platform serving to balance the ac ion of the weight mechanism, and a latch adapted to engage the arm for holding the valve in closed position.

10. The combination in a feed regulator of a substantially vertical supply duct, and a valve extending substantially around said duct adapted to be horizontally movable across the bottom of the duct for regulating the flow of material therethrough, the said valve comprising side walls at opposite sides of the duct, a front wall in front of the duct and a floor between the side walls and spaced.

12. The combination in a feed regulator, of a substantially vertical supply duct, a.

valve horizontally movable across the bottom of the duct for regulating the flow of material therethrough, the said valve comprising side walls at opposite sides of the duct, a front wall in front of the duct and a floor between the side walls and spaced from the front wall, two similar parallel links for movably supporting the valve, an arm horizontally pivoted below the level of the valve and having a pivotal connection therewith for controlling it, an adjustable weight mechanism connected with the arm and tending to hold the valve in open position, a movable regulating platform onto which material is delivered from the supply duct, and a connection between the platform and the valve for moving the valve in the closing direction when the platformis moved by material engaging therewith, the engagement of the material with the platform serving to balance the action of the weight mechanism.

13. The combniation in a feed regulator,

ofa substantially vertical supply duct,

valve horizontall movable across the bob tom of tie duct for regulating the flow of material thcrethrough, the said valve com"- pris'ing side walls at opposite sides ofthe duct, a front wall in front of the duct and a floor between theside walls andspaced from the front wall, a deflector for the material carried by the front wall of the valve, two similar parallel links for movably supporting the valve, an arm horizontally pivoted below the level of the valve and having a pivotal connection therewith for controlling it, an adjustable weight mechanism connected with the arm and tending to hold the valve in open position, a movable regulating platform onto which material is delivered from the supply duct, and a connection between the platform and the valve for moving the valve in the closing direction when the platform is moved by material engaging therewith, the engagement of the material with the platform serving to balance the action of the weight mechanism.

14K. The combination in a feed regulator,

of a substantially vertical supply duct, a

valve horizontally movable across the bottom of the duct for regulating the flow of material therethrough, two similar parallel links for movably supporting the valve, a

horizontally pivoted hub below the level of I the valve, an arm extending upward from the hub and having a pivotal connection with the valve for controlling it, a weight carried by the hub and tending to move the arm to hold the valve in open position, a balance arm carried by the hub, a counterweight adjustable along thebalance arm andacting in opposition to the first said weight, a mov is delivered from the supply duct, a pivoted link for supporting the platform at one end, and two parallel links connected with the valve for supporting the platform at, the other end, the last said links serving to move the valve in the closing direction when the platform is moved by material engaging therewith.

16. The combination in a feed regulator, of supply duct, a valve regulating the flow of material through the duct, means tending it to hold the valve in opeir position, a. movable regulating platform onto which material is delivered from the supply duct, a. uide duct i V the platform atone end, ahdtwo parallel links connected with the valve for support-v, ling the platform atthe other end, the last] said links serving to move 'thevalve in the closing direction when the platform is moved by material engaging therewith. V

DAVID GEDDES, 

